The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes

The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes is the second foreign version of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. Like The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, this version was filmed, in its entirety, outside Las Vegas, Nevada and consisted of 13 episodes with a live finale in Australia. The season tournament finale, along with the coaches fight, took place on 14 December 2012 at UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson.
The series was officially announced by the UFC in May 2012. The name The Smashes is a play on the 130-year-old cricket rivalry between England and Australia called "The Ashes." The UFC held open tryouts during June 2012. The casting call was for Lightweight and Welterweight fighters who are at least 21 years old and have a minimum of two wins in three professional fights.
On 12 July 2012, Dana White announced that the coaches for the season would be Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos to represent the UK and Australia respectively.
Cast
Coaches
Team Australia
George Sotiropoulos, Head Coach
Nick Kara
Charles Blanchard
Leonard Gabriel Jr.
Nathan Coy
Team UK
Ross Pearson, Head Coach
Dean Amasinger
Jimmy Harbison
Jason Soares
Erin Beach
Fighters
Team Australia
Welterweights
Benny Alloway, Xavier Lucas, Manny Rodriguez (replaced by James Vainikolo due to injury), and Robert Whittaker.
Lightweights
Grant Blackler, Patrick Iodice, Richie Vaculik, and Ben Wall.
Team UK
Welterweights
Luke Newman, Bola Omoyele, Valentino Petrescu, and Brad Scott.
Lightweights
Colin Fletcher, Norman Parke, Michael Pastou (replaced by Brendan Loughnane due to injury), and Mike Wilkinson.
Episodes
Episode 1: National Pride
All 16 fighters moved into the house, based in Australia, and were introduced to Dana White and their respective coaches.
Team Australia won the coin toss, meaning they got to pick the first fight; however, Team UK gained the right to state which weight class would compete.
Team UK's Michael Pastou sustained a bicep injury in sparring and was later told that the injury would most likely need surgery
Benny Alloway defeated Valentino Petrescu via TKO (punches) at 0:42 of round 2.
Episode 2: Freak or Unique
The fighters got a surprise visit from UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos.
Team UK's Michael Pastou was forced out of the competition due to his bicep injury, and was replaced by Brendan Loughnane.
During training Team UK's Colin Fletcher decided to climb the scaffolding and put a fake mustache and eyepatch on George Sotiropoulos poster.
With Team Australia in control, George puts Ben Wall against Colin Fletcher.
Colin Fletcher defeated Ben Wall via unanimous decision.
Episode 3: Wasabi
Team Australia retaliate to Team UK by cutting out the head of the Ross Pearson poster and sticking it on the body of Arianny Celeste.
Ross Pearson took Team UK outside to train to get in touch with nature in the rain.
Colin Fletcher and Ben Wall are persuaded to snort lines of Wasabi and Peri Peri Sauce.
With Team UK in control, Pearson puts Luke Newman against Robert Whittaker.
Robert Whittaker defeated Luke Newman via KO at 0:19 of round 1.
Episode 4: Pick Me!
Team Australia tackle the outdoors by undertaking a long jog on the beach and doing some uphill sprints.
Team Australia are fed up with Team UK's lack of cleanliness.
With Team Australia in control, George puts Richie Vaculik against Norman Parke.
Colin Fletcher does naked laps around the tennis court.
The pranks get out of hand when Team Australia effortlessly put training mats against Team UK's changing room door. Team UK respond by tying a bucket full of coffee, water and honey to the doorknob so that it is poured onto an unsuspecting victim. Team Australia get back at them by pouring a bucket of smelly water onto Team UK's couches.
Norman Parke defeats Richie Vaculik by unanimous decision.
Episode 5: Fight for Your Family
Colin Fletcher defaces a poster of George Sotiropoulos in the house.
Team Australia are not impressed with the house antics from Team UK which include food fights and more naked runs.
With Team UK in control, Pearson puts Bola Omoyele against Manny Rodriguez.
Luke Newman has thoughts of leaving the show and returning home as he can't train with his current medical suspension. With his friend Bola Omoyele due to fight next, he needs convincing from his teammates and coaches before finally deciding to stay on and support his team.
Manny Rodriguez defeats Bola Omoyele via north-south choke at 4:07 of round 1.
Episode 6: True Warrior
Team Australia's Manny Rodriguez was forced out of the competition after suffering a fractured leg in his previous bout, and was replaced by James Vainikolo.
With Team Australia in control, George puts Patrick Iodice against Brendan Loughnane.
Colin Fletcher dresses as the new replacement for Team Australia.
Brendan Loughnane defeats Patrick Iodice by unanimous decision.
Episode 7: Unwise Words
Ben Wall joins Team UK in a food fight.
Pearson announces the last welterweight quarter-final fight; Brad Scott vs. Xavier Lucas
The UFC has decided to have James Vainikolo fight his way into the semi-finals. Team Australia chooses which UK fighter will fight him.
Team UK reads through Brad Scott's personal diary leaving many teammates upset.
UFC Light Heavyweight, James Te Huna, visits Team Australia before their fight.
Brad Scott defeats Xavier Lucas by unanimous decision.
Episode 8: Phone Home
The final lightweight quarter-final is announced, Grant Blackler vs. Mike Wilkinson.
Dean Amasinger (a UK assistant coach) walked in on an Australian training session to find a book with valuable info on all members of Team UK. Sotiropoulos begins ordering Amasinger to leave, Pearson then walks in to defend Amasinger.
The book is then revealed as stolen by members of Team Australian and is given back to the Team UK coaches.
It is announced that James Vainikolo will not fight a member of Team UK, but instead, would fight Xavier Lucas, which angers UK welterweight Valentino Petrescu.
Dana White scolds Team UK for using a cell phone to call home, and send text messages of fight results.
Vainikolo could not make weight and the fight was called off, causing Xavier Lucas to move into the semifinals.
Mike Wilkinson defeats Grant Blackler via Submission of round 1.
Episode 9: Easy Route
Brad Scott defeats Benny Alloway via split decision after 3 rounds
Episode 10: Smash it UP
Norman Parke defeats Brendan Loughane via unanimous decision after 3 rounds
Episode 11: Friendly Fire
Robert Whittaker defeats Xavier Lucas via TKO (punches) in round 1
Episode 12: Little and Large
Colin Fletcher defeats Richie Vaculik via submission (keylock) in round 2
Welterweight Bracket
*James Vainikolo was due to fight Xavier Lucas for a spot in the next round to replace the injured Manny Rodriguez. Vainikolo did not make the weight therefore Lucas advanced to the semi-finals.
Lightweight Bracket
*Mike Wilkinson was injured in training and was replaced by Australian Richie Vaculik.
Bonus awards
The following $25,000 bonus were awarded to fights that took place during the TUF Smashes season:
Fight of the Season: Ben Alloway vs. Brad Scott
Knockout of the Season: Robert Whittaker
Submission of the Season: Colin Fletcher
The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes FinaleUFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson (also known as UFC on FX 6) was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on 15 December 2012, at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gold Coast, Australia. Due to the time zone difference it aired live on 14 December in North America.
Background
The event featured the final bouts of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes''. This was the first UFC event held in Queensland, and the first event in Australia to be held outside New South Wales.
Joe Martinez was the ring announcer in what would be his UFC octagon debut.
Australia's George Sotiropoulos and Britain's Ross Pearson headlined the card in a five-round main event. The pair had been coaching opposite one another on the hit reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes.
Kyle Noke was expected to face Seth Baczynski at the event. However, Noke was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by Mike Pierce.
Anthony Perosh was expected to face Joey Beltran at the event. However, Perosh was forced from the bout with a toe injury and replaced by Igor Pokrajac.
A bout between Ednaldo Oliveira and Krzysztof Soszynski was originally scheduled for this event. However, Oliveira was forced out of the bout with an injury and Sosynski was pulled from the event as well.
Eddie Mendez was expected to make his promotional debut at the event against Nick Penner. However, Mendez pulled out of the bout citing a shoulder injury and was replaced by fellow newcomer Cody Donovan.
Hacran Dias was expected to face Chad Mendes at the event. However just days before the event, Dias pulled out of the bout citing a shoulder injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Yaotzin Meza.
Results
Bonus awards
Fighters were awarded $40,000 bonuses.
Fight of the Night: Nick Penner vs. Cody Donovan
Knockout of the Night: Ben Alloway
Submission of the Night: Not awarded as no bouts ended by submission
See also
2012 in UFC
List of UFC events
Mixed martial arts in Australia
References
2010s Australian reality television series
The Ultimate Fighter episodes
Australian sports television series
Sports competitions in Sydney
Mixed martial arts in Australia
2012 in mixed martial arts
Television shows filmed in Australia